Russ Aikman

Summary:

Russ has more than 30 years of experience in applying proven Continuous Improvement methods in both manufacturing and service. He has worked with smaller companies up to Fortune 500 firms and is especially adept at developing the problem-solving skills of his customers through a combination of training and coaching. Russ has deep knowledge of Lean Six Sigma (LSS), a structured approach to problem-solving focused on financial impact. His customers benefit not only from improvements to their processes but also to staff who leverage their LSS skills to become future leaders at their companies.

Areas of Expertise:

Russ is the Program Manager for Lean Six Sigma. Since starting the LSS Program at TMAC in 2003 he has taught dozens of classes and provided project coaching for over 700 individuals. In addition he has worked closely with managers at over 20 firms on program deployment challenges ranging from selecting projects to choosing candidates for training to sustaining results. A LSS Master Black Belt, he is qualified to teach all of the following classes:
• LSS Green Belt
• LSS Black Belt
• LSS Master Black Belt
• LSS Sponsor & Champion Workshop

Scope of Experience:

Educated as an Industrial Engineer, Russ has worked as a Process Engineer, Quality Engineer, Lean Consultant, ISO 9000 Auditor, and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. He has worked for TMAC since 1996.

Relevant Assignments:

Russ has taught over 70 LSS Master Black Belt, Black Belt, Green Belt, and Executive training courses. He has also provided coaching support for dozens of individuals on their projects prior to their certification as LSS Black Belts and Green Belts. He has worked in a wide variety of industries including manufacturers (aerospace, food & beverage, oil & gas equipment, building materials, clothing), services (healthcare, logistics, banking, insurance, utilities, retail), and government (city to federal). Russ has provided onsite support for companies in the United States, Canada, Ireland, and England.

At Dr Pepper he worked closely with management in the development of their award-winning Rapid Continuous Improvement Program. He also provided training and coaching for Transplace, a third party logistics firm based in the DFW area. He partnered with leadership at USG Corporation in the deployment of their LSS Program.

Russ has worked with different hospitals including Children’s Medical Center, JPS Health Network, and HCA North Texas Division. From 2008 to 2010 he oversaw the delivery of three different onsite LSS Green Belt classes at Children’s Medical Center. A total of 61 individuals were trained in these classes, each of whom received project coaching by TMAC staff. The Green Belts completed project work resulting in savings in excess of $2M.

Prior to his focus on Lean Six Sigma, Russ worked with over a dozen different companies in the development of their ISO 9000 Quality Management System. He also worked with a variety of firms on Lean Enterprise projects including Value Stream Mapping, Setup Reduction, Cellular Manufacturing, Kaizen Events and Pull Systems.

Education and Training:

Russ received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and his Master of Science in Industrial Engineering degree from The University of Arkansas. He previously served as an Examiner through the Texas Award for Performance Excellence and is a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt.

Honors, Awards and Special Accomplishments:
Russ is a Senior Member of the Institute of Industrial Engineers, and was President of the Dallas Chapter in 2001. He was awarded the Outstanding Industrial Engineer of the Year in 2002, from the Dallas Chapter of IIE, and he was inducted into the Arkansas Academy of Industrial Engineers in 2010.

Previous Employers:

Russ worked as a Senior Consultant at George Group, where he implemented Lean Improvements at a variety of firms. Prior to that, he worked as a Consultant at Accenture. He also worked as a Quality Engineer at Baxter Healthcare and as a Process Engineer at AT&T Technologies.

Contact TMAC

202 E. Border Street
Arlington, TX 76010
Suite #323

(817) 272-5909

(800) 625-4876

TMAC is the official representative of the MEP National Network and NIST MEP in The State of Texas. The MEP National Network is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing.